Hi guys, what news from Edge camp? Well, our brand new album Borrowdale Johnny is steaming ahead, it's been a long gestation but well worth it as I'm sure it's gonna be the best thing we've ever recorded by a long chalk.

It's been such a full-on year for us, and the gigs keep steaming in; brilliant! There's been so many cooking gigs already this year it's untrue, and I'm just so looking forward to many more hot dance nights to take us through the dusky nights of autumn.

I'm also nipping off to Norway in December to play a couple of duo gigs with fab Irish piper/flautist and good mate Andy Murphy and his wife Anna, which will be fun. Western Norway is about as lovely as Cumbria, it is true, (praise indeed from a Cumbrianista like me) and there is a cultural synergy thing that goes on when I'm there ...something about being mad about mountains, nature, solitude, naked bathing and folk music all at the same time......

'Edge re-charging our batteries between gigs at the moment, and gathering sporadically in Carolyn's back room to get some more top chunes in the set.

Summer Festival Bookings

2005 is already our busiest year yet, with around sixty gigs on the books.(And much more on the way!) As well as a healthy influx of function gigs, (Thank-you to all you kind bookers!), we will be playing at three excellent Northern Festivals this summer: Dates/times/links can be found in our calendar>> , below is a short summary of these:

SOLFEST, or Solway Festival to give it it's full title, is held at Tarns Farm in Silloth, West Cumbria over August Bank Holiday: 26th / 27th / 28th. 2004 was SOLFEST'S first year, and was a huge sellout sucess, hosting such bands as Oysterband, Shooglenifty and Croft 5 (Our kind of groovy roots music!) We are therefore delighted to be booked to play SOLFEST this year, on Saturday 27th.

DENT FOLK FESTIVAL is a cozy little festival in Yorkshire Dales on the 25th and 26th June, and yet always hosts a cracking array of nationally-renowned acts. This year, we are playing an acoustic set on the Sunday, hopefully combining with big buddy and N.W. clog maesto (mistress!) Alex Fisher. Certainly the chance to try out some fresh ideas in the acoustic context.

FURNESS TRADITIONS FESTIVAL is based in Ulverston, South Cumbria, and will see the town come alive with folk music and dance over the weekend of 15th / 16th / 17th July. We are delighted to once again headline the main concert/ceilidh on Saturday night, in what is South Cumbria's biggest folk attraction of the year.

All these festivals will, no doubt, draw out different aspects of the band's charachter, be it rip-roaring electric roots band, woody acoustic band, or cracking ceilidh band, and if I could, I would try to sell you a tour-ticket for all three! I will just surfice to say 'see you there' at hopefully one or the other: details of times etc. in our calendar.htm>>

Happy Anniversary!

We are now in our tenth year 'on the road', and celebratated with a very special Tenth Anniversary Gig in March at Witherslack Village Hall in South Cumbria.

This involved music from Striding Edge, and special guests 'Supersonic Tradition' and 'Dynamo Zetor'.We were also joined onstage by some of the 'extended family' of players who have graced our lineup down the years.

Altogether, this was a great night of havoc: Huge sounds, cracking beer (thanks, Hawkshead Brewery!) and an amazing crowd, so many old friends at once it was a bit overwhelming! Thanks to everyone who came and made it a really special night for us...CHEERS!!!

January Roundup (posted 31/ 1 / 05)

January has been a cracking month, with a every gig an absolute storm. It must be the vile weather we've been having, building up a head of manic suppressed energy in people, just ready and waiting to be released onto the dance floor!

Ashkam Village Hall on the 15th saw a swarm of vigorous fell-runners hit the floor and sustain an incredible pace for the evening. What a brilliant crowd!

Burn Night ceilidhs on the 21st and 22nd took us to Lancaster for two action-packed nights and packed-out dance floors at both venues, the Royal Grammar School and The Gregson. At the Grammar, there was probably the largest strip-the willow we have ever hosted, with a total of about 200 dancers: simply mad to watch from the height of the stage!

A return to Lancaster on the 28th saw us stage a ceilidh for infants at Christchurch School: every time we play this type of gig, we vow to do more, as they are such enormous fun...any offers??

Finally, we drove to Borrowdale Lodore for our first of several gigs at that esteemed hotel this year. Robert and Catherine's wedding crowd were complete ceilidh converts and took to the floor all night: I don't think we managed to squeeze one single song between the dances, highly unuasual! Anyway, a truly memorable night of full-on ceilidh thrill-seeking.....thanks Robert and Cath, our best wishes and see you again we hope

That's about it for now!

Cheers Mike, Caro, Rick and Ben.